TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - After the resignation of the Deputy Chief of the National Police Commissioner General Syafruddin, because he was appointed as the Minister of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform, there was no decision on who would replace the position.

“There has been no decision from the leadership because the position of Deputy Chief of Police is purely the prerogative of the Chief of Police,” said Head of the Public Information Bureau of the Indonesian Public Relations Division, Brigadier General Mohammad Iqbal at National Police Headquarters, South Jakarta, Wednesday, August 15.

Iqbal said that the vacant position would not last long because the Chief of Police would immediately appoint one of the high officers to replace General Syafruddin. “We predict that the Deputy Chief of Police’s substitute will be appointed soon,” he said.

The name of Inspector General Idham Azis, who currently serves as the Jakarta Police Chief, emerged as the substitute candidate. But Iqbal said it was handed over to the National Police Chief. “Please assume, guess,” he said.

Since Tuesday, August 14, Syafruddin officially resigned from his position. It was done after he was appointed to become the Minister of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform to replace Asman Abnur. Asman resigned from the cabinet of Joko Widodo’s administration because his party, National Mandate Party (PAN), was in opposition to Jokowi’s coalition in the 2019 presidential election.

Syafruddin was officially appointed as the Minister at 10:00 am at the State Palace. Furthermore, he will undergo the handover of the position in his new office.

ANDITA RAHMA